By Abbas Datti
Recently, the registration fees of most federal universities in Nigeria have risen dramatically, constituting a huge financial problem for students and their families.
The current fee increase places unfair constraints on low-income people, perpetuating inequality and promoting social inadequacies. More so, the exclusion is based on financial circumstances. As the registration fees continue to increase, the desirable dream of acquiring a university education slips further out of reach for many deserving individuals.
Therefore, as a bona fide resident of Kano and a great beneficiary of low and subsidised registration fees, I will use Bayero University as my case study. I am writing to appeal to Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, regarding the current situation.
We know Sagir as someone with an exceptionally high calibre personality, humility and modest approach. This sets him far above others. Thus, we believe he will no doubt consider the attending consequences of this enormous increase.
We have been told that education is a fundamental right of every individual, and one must admit that it is the responsibility of educational institutions to provide a nurturing and good inclusive environment that fosters academic growth and development for all students. While one may comprehend the various needs associated with running a university and the alleged withdrawal of the government from funding universities, I would like to refer the Vice Chancellor back to the difficulties many students experienced in paying their respective registration fees since before the recent increase.
The ever-increasing cost of registration fees has become a significant deterrent for prospective students, leading to a potential decline in enrolment rates. The burden of high registration fees and other expenses, such as accommodation, and high living costs, is enormous on students and their various families. Potentially, it not only limits access to education but also jeopardises the overall tertiary education enrolments.
I passionately beseech the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University to consider the urgent need for a reduction in registration fees and initiate constructive consultations with the appropriate university stakeholders to find feasible solutions. This could involve exploring more alternative revenue generation, seeking additional funding from wealthy personalities and other intervention funds, or reallocating resources to ensure a well-rounded, balanced approach that benefits both the university and the students.
Abbas Datti wrote from Kano via abbasdatti448@gmail.com.
